Becky Kuhn, M.D. discusses factors patients say make it hard for them to take their antiretroviral medications (ARVs) on schedule as prescribed. This problem is referred to as "ARV noncompliance." Failing to take ARVs as prescribe can lead a patient to develop a strain of HIV that is resistant to the medications they are taking, require that the patient switch to other medications, and increase the risk of clinical AIDS and death. If you are on ARVs, please take them as your doctor has prescribed and talk with the doctor if you're having trouble taking them on schedule.